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Jefferson Graham reviews the new products introduced by Amazon, including a talking microwave and a clock on Talking Tech.
Jefferson Graham, United States TODAY & # 39; HUI

SEATTLE – The Echo speakers attracted the most attention. And the experts had fun with an Alexa enabled microwave and a clock.

But the DVR and the automatic key stole the show at the launch of Amazon's new product.

Amazon on Thursday invited a handful of journalists to its headquarters to present its new range of holiday products, which will be available in October and November.

The updated portfolio of echo-connected speakers offers better sound, improved aesthetics and useful tools. I love the new deception – speak softly to Alexa and she will answer you gently.

But I spend more time watching television than whispering. And not a day goes by without my driving.

Amazon TV Fire Recast is a $ 229 DVR for cable cutters (Photo: Jefferson Graham)

More: From a microwave to a clock, Amazon takes Alexa beyond the speakers

More: Amazon offers Echo line a new version of its product as the company launches 70 new products for Alexa

In terms of utility, the results of the presentation came when Amazon hit us where we live.

• The Fire TV Recast DVR is a user friendly cable cutter, a way to permanently record our favorite TV shows (very few DVRs are available) with no monthly fees. The redesign starts at $ 229 – period. Compare this to the grandfather of the DVR, TiVo, whose Bolt box is $ 199, plus $ 15 a month for service. (And most cable operators charge about $ 20 to $ 30 a month to rent their DVR.)

Spoiler alert: The redesign is strictly reserved for cable cutters. It does not work with decoders but rather with home antennas, responding to a need of those who watch TV shows but do not have the means to record them.

• The Echo Auto is a small, ingenious device, the size of an old iPod Nano, which plugs into the USB port of your car and your phone. Here you have Alexa now in the car.

Amazon Echo Auto on a car dashboard. (Photo: Amazon)

I have Bluetooth in my Hyundai Elantra and I can make calls and nothing else. I can not ask for music or podcasts on demand, I can not ask for directions or local restaurants.

So I'm looking forward to this $ 50 device that could do all this, as well as all those Alexa skills that would theoretically work in the car.

Alexa, find me the nearest gas station.

Alexa, where is the nearest McDonald's?

Alexa, how many kilometers is the nearest motel?

These are things we all need.

Of course, there are automotive alternatives, including CarPlay and Apple's Android Auto, but these are accessories that you buy with a new car purchase or as after-sales accessories, between $ 299 and $ 399, plus installation .

Here is a $ 50 dongle that plugs into any USB car port. Where do we sign? (Amazon does the Automatic tool available to "invite only" customers for $ 24.99 and eventually publish for $ 49.99)

Among the speakers, Amazon has devoted much of its presentation to brag about more beautiful speakers (the Dot and Echo Plus have more style this year), but the most popular device is the new Echo Show.

This is the Echo speaker with a video monitor that started slowly when it was launched in 2017. The original echo had a small 7-inch video screen, and although it cost $ 229, you can buy the old model for $ 129.99.

The new Echo features a 10-inch screen, upgraded speakers and a more rugged body. Going from 7 inches to 10 inches does not sound much, but believe me, this is a big gesture that will be noticed in the kitchens here in Paris.

What is Echo Show now like: a mega-computer, a big iPad, with a beautiful screen that could eliminate the use of the computer or kitchen television for many people. And he makes video phone calls, shows lyrics and lets you share your photos. This would improve the lives of many people – going around the phone to watch pictures becomes boring.

At launch, there was little video available for viewing. In the beginning, Google's YouTube was available until a spitting company saw it remove Google. So, now, Amazon has a workaround – a web browser, to watch YouTube or other online video sites.

And by taking the full circle, the new Recast has more features than saying, my DVR in this recorded video can be seen in several places – TV, phones, tablets and, of course, the Echo Show. Again, turning the show into a small family TV.

If there were losers of the event, it would have to be classic echo speakers. More elegant, better sound, says Amazon, but compared to a talking microwave, a TV replacement for the kitchen, an affordable DVR for cable cutters and the possibility for Alexa to accompany us … yesterday

Unless we whisper, is not it?

Readers, what do you think of the new Amazon products? Let's talk about it on Twitter, where I am @jeffersongraham.

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